Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael: with an account of the Picts, Caledonians, and Scots; and observations relative to the authenticity of the poems of Ossian / By James Grant.

  • James Grant of Corrimony
Date:
1814
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Thoughts on the origin and descent of the Gael: with an account of the Picts, Caledonians, and Scots; and observations relative to the authenticity of the poems of Ossian / By James Grant. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    _ And even the alteration, “ Tall as a glittering “ rock,” is taken’from a simile that follows a few “lines afterwards, in the same poem: «* So Zembla’s rocks, the beauteous work of frost, Rise white in air, and glitter o’er the coast.” Now let us take the words of Ossian :— ** Chunnaic mi ’n ceannard, thuirt Moran ; Coimeas do ’n charraig an triath.” — Latin Version. « Vidi ego eorum ducem, dixit Moran; Est similis rupi princeps.” : ‘“ 7] saw their leader, said Moran; Like a rock was the chief.” The words of Pope’s Temple of Fame are totally inapplicable. The epithet glittering, which gave occasion to the criticism, ts the translator's am- plification, unauthorized by the original. Translation.—“ His ick isa cal pine; his “ shield, the rising moon.’ Criticism.— His spear, to equal which the tallest pine, Hewn on Norwegian hills, to be the mast Of some great ammiral.” —-—-—-——“ His ponderous shield Hung on his shoulders, like the moon, whose orb Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views At evening,’— FE